03-15-2012, 05:56 PM
When discussing the organization of machineguns in the Infantry Squad/Section, the biggest factors are always maneuverability, firepower, & reliability. The Army Ordnance Corps and powers that were really screwed the Infantry Squad out of the possibility of ever having a light machinegun that could meet these three requirements by adoption of the 7.62 NATO over the .280, but the .280 using a T65 case would still take up the same amount of space, albeit lighter with 130gr projectiles.
The MAG 58 GPMG is an awesome machinegun that is very reliable, accurate, and easy to use. Its biggest downfalls:
Lack of Maneuverability (weight and length) Its receiver was originally designed for a tripod or vehicle pintle mount, not a stock.
Lack of weapon-mounted feed device
The mag-fed LSW was maneuverable, but being mag-fed and based on the L85 receiver, it was abhorred by British soldiers.
The Minimi has the firepower in volume, but is way too heavy for its class, especially when you compare it to the weight of the PKM, and the Minimi's reliability blows.
With the Grendel, we finally have a cartridge that can be the basis for a true LIGHT Machinegun that offers the ballistics of the .280, in the COAL of a 5.56, and lighter ammunition than any .473"-based military cartridge.
I believe the solution lies in building an LMG around a belt-fed Grendel. Imagine having as good as or better than 7.62 NATO performance, out of an LMG that is lighter than a SAW/Minimi, and reliable as a MAG58. That is what the Infantry Sqaud/Section needs more than anything else right now, to balance the current maneuverability weakness that SAW's and M240's present, without sacrificing any performance.
The MAG 58 GPMG is an awesome machinegun that is very reliable, accurate, and easy to use. Its biggest downfalls:
Lack of Maneuverability (weight and length) Its receiver was originally designed for a tripod or vehicle pintle mount, not a stock.
Lack of weapon-mounted feed device
The mag-fed LSW was maneuverable, but being mag-fed and based on the L85 receiver, it was abhorred by British soldiers.
The Minimi has the firepower in volume, but is way too heavy for its class, especially when you compare it to the weight of the PKM, and the Minimi's reliability blows.
With the Grendel, we finally have a cartridge that can be the basis for a true LIGHT Machinegun that offers the ballistics of the .280, in the COAL of a 5.56, and lighter ammunition than any .473"-based military cartridge.
I believe the solution lies in building an LMG around a belt-fed Grendel. Imagine having as good as or better than 7.62 NATO performance, out of an LMG that is lighter than a SAW/Minimi, and reliable as a MAG58. That is what the Infantry Sqaud/Section needs more than anything else right now, to balance the current maneuverability weakness that SAW's and M240's present, without sacrificing any performance.